Milk production empowers Himachali women

Sirmour (Himachal Pradesh) June 17, : Sirmour region in Himachal Pradesh could very well be a repeat of Anand milk cooperative in Gujarat, which transformed the life of farmers in that region.

'Indira women milk production co-operative Society' of Sarahan village in Sirmour district has set a record in milk production. It is the number one women society in milk production in Sirmour district of the state.

The milk federation of the state has rated the association as the number one, in terms of quantity and quality of the milk being produced here.

Over 1,000 women in Sirmour are working in milk production through 13 women associations here.

Sirmour district has over 55 registered and non-registered societies for milk production. On an average, it produces 6,800 litres of milk in a day. This year the federation has a target of over 10,000 litres milk per day.

The women here are very happy and enthusiastic as now they have a regular source of income. The society got registered in 1998, and since then they have a steady income, which can help them to improve their livelihood.

"We want to be self dependant and that's why we thought of opening this society through which we can sell milk and earn a regular income for ourselves. The society was started in 1993 and after four years it got registration. We now sell around 150 litres of milk everyday and during monsoons it is 250 litres. We get around Rs 14 per litre at times but the composite rate set is Rs 10 per litre," said Geeta Devi, a rural woman.

The men in the district are quite supportive to their womenfolk. This has encouraged more and more women to join such societies so that they can lend a helping hand in the family's expenditure.

Sirmour is in third position in terms of milk production, after Kullu and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.

The director of the milk federation said that since 1994 the federation is looking after the milk production. And the Sarahan village woman Association is number one in the production of milk. By Hemant Chauhan